Publications

Differences among substance abusing Latino, Anglo, and African-American juvenile offenders in predictors of recidivism and treatment outcome

Differences among substance abusing Latino, Anglo, and African-American juvenile offenders in predictors of recidivism and treatment outcome

Differences Among Substance Abusing Latino, Anglo, and African-American Juvenile Offenders in Predictors of Recidivism and Treatment OutcomeAbstract: Alcohol and drug use is prevalent among juvenile offenders and many of the risk factors that predict delinquent behavior also predict adolescent drug use. This study examined the impact of self-reported risk factors on treatment outcomes and recidivism among Latino, Anglo, and African American juvenile offenders. Risk factors included family structure and interactions, peer influences, education, psychiatric history, substance abuse history, stressful life events experienced, and use of leisure time. Analyses yielded the following key findings: Older adolescents and males were more likely to have a greater number and severity of offenses; older adolescents were less likely to complete treatment successfully; a curvilinear relationship existed between time in treatment and positive treatment outcomes, with extremely long treatment time associated with poorer outcomes; and significant differences existed between Latino and African American youth in which risk factors predicted outcomes. Implications for social work practice and research are discussed.

Rivaux, S.L., Springer, D.W., Bohman, T., Wagner, E.F., & Gil, A.G. (2006). Differences among Substance abusing Latino, Anglo, and African-American juvenile offenders in predictors of recidivism and treatment outcome. Journal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions6(4), 5-29. doi:10.1300/J160v06n04_02

Correlates of treatment retention among multi-ethnic youth with substance use problems: Initial examination of ethnic group differences

Correlates of treatment retention among multi-ethnic youth with substance use problems: Initial examination of ethnic group differences

Abstract/Aims: To explore (1) the influence of pretreatment and treatment factors on treatment retention among a multi-ethnic sample of adolescents and (2) the potential differential influence of pretreatment and treatment factors on treatment retention within each ethnic subgroup.

Participants: A multi-ethnic sample of 420 adolescent juvenile offenders in treatment for substance use problems (U.S.-born Hispanics n = 222; foreign-born Hispanics n = 94; African-Americans n = 66; and non-Hispanic Whites n = 38).

Design: Cross-sectional data were examined using analysis of variance (ANOVA) testing putative differences in treatment retention for the entire sample (N = 420) for the following factors: (1) ethnicity, (2) psychiatric comorbidity, and (3) treatment variables. The second set of analyses examines differences in treatment retention associated with these factors within the ethnic subgroups. Finally, supplementary analyses were conducted to explore the potential influence on retention of the following cultural factors: (a) ethnic orientation, (b) perceived discrimination, and (c) acculturation level (for Hispanic youth only).

Findings: Consistent with prior research, results indicated that non-Hispanic White adolescents had significantly higher treatment retention than the ethnic minority adolescents (p = .003). The particular factors related to treatment retention varied greatly across the four ethnic subgroups; however there were no differences in treatment retention by any of the cultural variables.

Conclusions: Taken together, the results suggest that ethnic minority youth continue to drop out of treatment at higher rates than their non-Hispanic White counterparts, and the factors associated with treatment retention vary greatly across ethnic groups.

Austin, A., & Wagner, E.F. (2006). Correlates of treatment retention among multi-ethnic youth with substance use problems: Initial examination of ethnic group differences. Journal of Child & Adolescent Substance Abuse15(3), 105-128. doi:10.1300/J029v15n03̱07

School-based group treatment for adolescent substance abuse

School-based group treatment for adolescent substance abuse

Abstract: The extant empirical literature indicates that treatment for adolescent alcohol and other drug (AOD) abuse (a) can succeed for adolescents with AOD use problems, (b) produces treatment outcomes comparable to those found among adults with AOD use problems, (c) yields varied improvement across different domains of functioning (e.g., school performance, emotional distress, family relations), and (d) does not differ substantially among treatments in the probability of success, with the possible exception of outpatient family therapy, which might lead to better outcomes in outpatient populations (Brown et al., 1996; Catalano et al., 1990–1991; Wagner, Myers, & Mclninch, 1999a; Williams et al., 2000). The literature also indicates that half of teenagers treated for substance use problems will relapse within 3 months of the completion of treatment, and two-thirds will relapse within 6 months (Brown, Mott, & Myers, 1990; Brown, Vik, & Creamer, 1989). Therefore, treatment can be effective for teenagers with AOD use problems, but relapse rates remain high, with most treated adolescents returning to substance use between 3 and 6 months after the completion of treatment.

Wagner, E.F., & Macgowan, M.J. (2006). School-based group treatment for adolescent substance abuse. In H. A. Liddle & C.L. Rowe (Eds.), Adolescent Substance Abuse: Research and Clinical Advances (pp. 333-356). New York, NY, US: Cambridge University Press. doi.:10.1017/CBO9780511543968.017

Guided Self-Change: A brief motivational intervention for cannabis users

Guided Self-Change: A brief motivational intervention for cannabis users

Guided Self-Change: A brief motivational intervention for cannabis usersAbstract: Studies of treated cannabis abusers (Ellingstad et al ., 2002; Sobell et al ., 1990; Stephens et al ., 2000) and those who have recovered without treatment (L.C. Sobell et al ., 2000) are few in number compared with studies of other drug abusers. Since national surveys have repeatedly shown that cannabis is the most widely used illicit drug (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 1997, 1998, 2000a, b) this finding is somewhat counterintuitive. In fact, a recent review of drug treatment studies found that only 8% (2 of 28) that met review criteria included primary cannabis abusers in their treatment samples (Ellingstad et al ., 2002). Further, a review of natural recovery studies found that only 1 of 40 reported data from cannabis abusers (L.C. Sobell et al ., 2000). Given cannabis popularity, an interesting question is why only about half a million of the 6.8 million frequent cannabis users (defined as using cannabis ≥ 50 times) enter treatment (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2000a). One possible reason is that compared with other illicit drugs, the negative consequences of cannabis use are fewer, and if they occur, are much less severe. For example, most of those who initiate abstinence from cannabis do not report severe withdrawal symptoms (Budney et al ., 2001; Wiesbeck et al ., 1996; Zimmer & Morgan, 1995) and the most frequently reported problems appear more related to personal dissatisfaction with drug use rather than objective negative consequences (Stephens et al ., 1994, 2000).

Sobell, L.C., Sobell, M.B., Wagner, E.F., Agrawal, S., & Ellingstad, T.P. (2006). Chapter 9 – Guided Self-Change: A brief motivational intervention for cannabis users. In R. Roffman, R. Stephens, & G.A. Marlatt, Cannabis Dependence: Its Nature, Consequences and Treatment (pp. 204-224). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. doi:10.1017/CBO9780511544248.011

Revisiting drug progression: Long-range effects of early tobacco use

Revisiting drug progression: Long-range effects of early tobacco use

Revisiting drug progression: Long-range effects of early tobacco useAbstract: Drug progression models have been a cornerstone of scientific and public policy discussions for decades. These models have been criticized for their lack of causal mechanisms leading to drug dependence. Future research should focus on identification of pathways and covariates. This study re-examines tobacco use onset and progression to drug dependence in a multi-ethnic sample followed longitudinally from early to late adolescence (1990 to 1998-2000). Data were collected in schools (n = 1208) during early adolescence (mean age 11.07), and subsequently face-to-face interviews were conducted at late adolescence (mean age 20.01). Results indicated ethnic differences in rates and progression of tobacco use, with African Americans and foreign-born Latinos having larger proportions of abstainers and lower rates of persistent use. Most early adolescent smokers progressed to regular use. The odds of progression to marijuana abuse or dependence by later adolescence were highest (O.R. = 4.9) among persistent smokers, but not significant for foreign-born Latinos. The odds of progression to drug abuse or dependence were also highest (O.R. = 6.4) for persistent smokers, but not significant for African Americans. Implications for research on pathways and mechanisms of progression are discussed. Prevention programs may interrupt drug progression if they delay onset of tobacco use until mid-adolescence. Preventing targeted marketing efforts by the tobacco industry, regulating and enforcing tobacco control laws and pricing cigarettes at cost levels that adolescents find prohibitive are effective supplements to traditional behavior change interventions.

Vega, W.A., & Gil, A.G. (2005). Revisiting drug progression: Long-range effects of early tobacco use. Addiction, 100(9), 1358-1369. doi:10.1111/j.1360-0443.2005.01141.x

Book Review – Successful prevention and youth development programs: Across borders

Book Review – Successful prevention and youth development programs: Across borders

Book Review - Successful Prevention and Youth Development Programs: Across BordersAbstract: Book Review

Griggs, J.C. (2005). [Review of the book  Successful prevention and youth development programs: Across borders, by Ferrer-Wrder, L., Stattin, H., Lorente, C.C., Tubman, J.G., & Adamson, L.]. The Journal of Primary Prevention, 26(4), 377-379. doi:10.1007/s10935-005-5386-0

Developmental considerations for substance use interventions from middle school through college

Developmental considerations for substance use interventions from middle school through college

Developmental Considerations for Substance Use Interventions From Middle School Through CollegeAbstract: This article summarizes a symposium organized by Dr. Elizabeth D’Amico and presented at the 2004 Annual Meeting of the Research Society on Alcoholism in Vancouver, Canada. The four presentations illustrate the importance of creating substance use interventions that are developmentally appropriate for youth. They represent innovative approaches to working with preteens, teenagers, and young adults. Dr. D’Amico’s paper describes her research on the development of a voluntary brief intervention targeting alcohol use among middle school students. Findings indicated that by using school and community input, she was able to obtain a diverse a sample of youth across grades, sex, ethnicity, and substance use status. Dr. Ellickson’s paper describes her research on Project ALERT, a school-based prevention program for middle school youth. Her findings indicate that Project ALERT worked for students at all levels of risk (low, moderate, and high) and for all students combined. Dr. Wagner’s Teen Intervention Project was a randomized clinical trial to test the efficacy of a standardized Student Assistance Program for treating middle and high school students with alcohol and other drug problems. The study provided a unique opportunity to begin to examine how development may impact response to an alcohol or other drug intervention. Dr. Turrisi’s paper examined processes underlying the nature of the effects of a parent intervention on college student drinking tendencies. Findings suggested that the parent intervention seems to have its impact on student drinking by reducing the influence of negative communications and decreasing the susceptibility of influences from closest friends. Dr. Kim Fromme provided concluding remarks.

D’Amico, E.J., Ellickson, P.L., Wagner, E.F., Turrisi, R., Fromme, K., Ghosh-Dastidar, B., … Wright, D. (2005). Developmental considerations for substance use interventions from middle school through college. Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research29(3), 474-483. doi:10.1097/01.ALC.0000156081.04560.78

Effective family-based interventions for adolescents with substance use problems: A systematic review

Effective family-based interventions for adolescents with substance use problems: A systematic review

AEffective Family-Based Interventions for Adolescents With Substance Use Problems: A Systematic Reviewbstract/Objective: This article is a systematic review identifying effective family-based interventions for adolescent sub- stance use problems.

Method: A substantive review of each intervention is conducted using guidelines for effective treatment for substance use problems. Additionally, a methodological review of each study is done using criteria for empirically validated treatments.

Results: Treatment components of five interventions—Brief Strategic Family Ther- apy (BSFT), Family Behavior Therapy, Functional Family Therapy, Multidimensional Family Therapy (MDFT), and Multisystemic Treatment—were consistent with a majority of guidelines for effective treatment. Notable exceptions include no aftercare and poor treatment retention. MDFT and BSFT met criteria of probably efficacious treatment, whereas the other interventions represented promising treatments. Moreover, MDFT demonstrated clinically signifi- cant changes in substance use and large effect sizes at posttreatment and follow-up.

Conclusion: To increase provision of effective adolescent substance abuse treatment, social workers should use these research findings to guide implementation.

Austin, A.M., Macgowan, M.J., & Wagner, E.F. (2005). Effective family-based interventions for adolescents with substance use problems: A systematic review. Research on Social Work Practice15(2), 67-83. doi:10.1177/1049731504271606

Iatrogenic effects of group treatments on adolescents with conduct and substance use problems: A review of the literature and a presentation of a model

Iatrogenic effects of group treatments on adolescents with conduct and substance use problems: A review of the literature and a presentation of a model

Abstract: Group therapy is the most popular approach in the treatment of adolescent substance use problems. Recently, concerns have mounted about possible iatrogenic effects of group therapy based on studies on adolescents with conduct disorder. This paper reviews three possible contributors to response to group treatment among adolescents, and proposes a model of the relations among these variables, specifically in regard to how they independently and interactively contribute to outcomes among youth with conduct and substance use problems.

Macgowan, M.J., & Wagner, E.F. (2005). Iatrogenic effects of group treatment on adolescents with conduct and substance use problems. Journal of Evidence-Based Social Work, 2(1-2), 79-90. doi:10.1300/j394v02n01_05

Implementing school-based substance abuse interventions: Methodological dilemmas and recommended solutions

Implementing school-based substance abuse interventions: Methodological dilemmas and recommended solutions

Implementing School-based Substance Abuse Interventions: Methodological Dilemmas and Recommended SolutionsAbstract: To review current knowledge about the most effective school-based interventions for child and adolescent problems, and to present dilemmas and potential solutions in mounting and evaluating school-based interventions for adolescent alcohol and other drug (AOD) use problems. Two literature reviews were conducted: (1) a broad and encompassing review of English-language articles published from 1990 to the present concerning school-based interventions for child and adolescent problems and (2) an exhaustive review of articles concerning Student Assistance Programs, which are the most popular approach to school-based AOD intervention in the United States. Ten key components of effective school-based interventions were identified. In addition, six pervasive dilemmas in school-based AOD intervention research were discussed. Examples of potential solutions to these dilemmas were gleaned from an ongoing randomized clinical trial of a Student Assistance Program. School-based AOD interventions have several potential advantages over more traditional clinic-based AOD interventions. Nonetheless, there are many challenges and dilemmas to conducting and evaluating interventions in school settings. With patience and guidance, these challenges can be addressed successfully.

Wagner, E.F., Tubman, J.G., & Gil, A.G. (2004). Implementing school-based substance abuse interventions: Methodological dilemmas and recommended solutions. Addiction99106-119. doi:10.1111/j.1360-0443.2004.00858.x